Roman shade fold forming batten

ABSTRACT

A roman shade fold forming batten including retaining means ( 1 ) to receive and releasably retain a fold of material ( 8 ) formed tansversely in a length of material; and suspension mounting means ( 7 ) located at one or more predetermined locations on the retaining means to receive suspension means ( 9 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a roman shade fold forming batten.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Traditionally roman shades have been formed by providing integrallylocated transverse battens at predetermined distances down a length ofmaterial. By attaching drawing cords to the material or battens it ispossible to give the appearance of discrete lengths of material whichcan be drawn successively. This is essential to the roman shade style ofwindow covering.

However the traditional roman shade is very labour intensive tomanufacture. It requires the formation of batten pockets and stitchingto connect the cords. As such roman shades are usually manufactured instandard drops designed for the more common window length.

When the drop of a window is unconventional it is necessary to have theroman shade especially made. This is expensive and there are significantdelays in the delivery times of such shades.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to simplify themanufacture of roman shades.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one form of the invention a roman shade fold forming battencomprising

(a) retaining means having (i) a front portion to receive and releasablyretain a fold of material formed transversely in a length of materialand (ii) a rear portion; and

(b) suspension mounting means having (i) a first end connected to atleast one predetermined location on the rear portion of the retainingmeans and (ii) a second end remote from the first end having an apertureformed therein to receive the suspension means.

In a first preferred embodiment of the invention, the suspension meanshas a first end which is a removable clip. Preferably the suspensionmeans has a second end which is a ring defining the aperture and havingan internal diameter substantially greater than the diameter of thesuspension means passing through the ring.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the retaining means is anelongated member having at least one longitudinal open mouthed cavity toreceive and releasably retain the fold of material. Typically the openmouth of the or each cavity has a width approximately equal to the widthof the fold of material.

In a further preferred embodiment, the retaining means further compriseslocking means to retain the fold of material in the or each cavity.Typically the locking means comprises at least one locking memberlocatable in the or each cavity and sandwiching the fold of materialbetween the locking member and the or each cavity. Preferably the oreach locking member has a cross-sectional profile which approximates thecross-sectional profile of the or each cavity. For example thecross-section may be circular.

Preferably the suspension mounting means is a clip or ring to receivethe suspension means.

With this type of batten it is possible to quickly and easilymanufacture the roman shade or provide a kit for doing so. It is alsopossible for consumers to create such a shade themselves withoutspecialist assistance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be further exemplified with reference to thedrawings. The embodiments are illustrative practical embodiments and donot limit the concept of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows the “C” section with flange according to this invention.

FIG. 2 shows the solid round rod according to this invention.

FIG. 3 shows the application of the “C” section to a piece of cloth.

FIG. 4 shows the solid round rod used in conjunction with the “C”section locking the cloth into its position inside the “C” section.

FIG. 5 shows a roman shade made of several attached “C” sections.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 it can be seen that the section 1 has aflange 2 with a node 3 allowing for the attachment of a cord guide ringat any position along its length.

Typically the section 1 has the shape of a ¾ circle or the letter “C”.It has an opening 4 which is large enough to accommodate fabric 5 to beinserted along its length.

A round rod 6 may be fed in from either end of section 1.

Referring to FIG. 3 it can be seen that fabric 5 has been inserted intothe opening of 4. The “C” section 1 thus forming a folding point in thefabric 5.

Referring to FIG. 4 it can be seen that the solid round rod 6 has beeninserted into the “C” section 1 to prevent the fabric 5 from escapingfrom the “C” section 1.

Referring to FIG. 5 it can be seen that with several “C” sections 1attached with cord guide rings 7 it has created a roman shade 8. A cord9 may be attached to the guide rings 7.

The word ‘comprising’ and forms of the word comprising as used in thisdescription and in the claims does not limit the invention claimed toexclude any variants or additions which are obvious to the personskilled in the art and which do not have a material effect upon theinvention.

The claims defining the invention are as follows:
 1. A roman shade foldforming batten, comprising: an elongated retaining member including asubstantially C-shaped section having an inner surface, an outer surfaceand opposite ends, said C-shaped section defining an opening such thatsaid C-shaped section receives and releasably retains a fold of materialformed transversely in a sheet material, said retaining member furtherincluding a flange extending from said outer surface substantiallybetween said opposite ends of said C-shaped section, said flange havinga first side, a second side, and an elongated bulbous end connectingsaid first side to said second side; a suspension mounting device beingremovably attachable to said retaining member, said suspension mountingdevice including a clip portion having a generally cylindricalengagement portion and a pair of generally parallel leg membersextending from said engagement portion, said suspension mounting devicefurther including a generally circular ring portion having an aperturetherethrough, such that when it is desirable to attach said suspensionmounting device to said retaining member, said clip portion ispositioned onto said flange such that one of said leg members engagessaid first side of said flange, the other of said leg members engagessaid second side of said flange and said cylindrical engagement portionreceives and engages said bulbous end of said flange, and such that whenit is desirable to remove said suspension mounting device from saidretaining member, said clip portion is removed from said flange; and achord passable through said aperture in said ring portion and operablyconnectable to said retaining member and said ring portion for foldingand unfolding the sheet of material.
 2. A roman shade fold formingbatten according to claim 1, further comprising: one or more additionalretaining members substantially similar to the first retaining member,each of said retaining members being spaced apart and substantiallyparallel to one another; and one or more additional suspension mountingdevices, one for each additional retaining member, said additionalsuspension mounting devices being substantially similar to the firstsuspension mounting device, said chord passing through each aperture ofeach ring portion and being operably connectable to each retainingmember and each ring portion for folding and unfolding the sheet ofmaterial.